Method for increasing the yield of beans

ABSTRACT

N-(R)-[1-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-2,2-dichloro-1-ethyl-3t-methyl-1r-cyclopropane-carboxamide of the formula  
                 
 
     (=Carpropamid)  
     is very suitable for increasing the yield of beans

[0001] The present invention relates to a new method for increasing theyield of beans by means of a known cyclopropanecarboxamide.

[0002] It has already been known that the yield of crops can beincreased by breeding plant varieties providing high yields of theharvested products, or by methods for chemically regulating the plantgrowth etc. Moreover, there have recently been conducted methods forartificially producing plant varieties with high yields by using plantgene recombinant technology.

[0003] As to beans, as a positive method for increasing the yield,particularly plant breeding has been adopted hitherto, whereas a methodfor chemical regulation of the plant growth has not been conducted untilnow.

[0004] It has also been described already thatN-(R)-[1-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-2,2-dichloro-1-ethyl-3t-methyl-1r-cyclopropanecarboxamide(=Carpropamid) shows fungicidal activity and can particularly beemployed for the control of Pyricularia oryzae on rice (see EP-A 0 341475).

[0005] It has now been found thatN-(R)-[1-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-2,2-dichloro-1-ethyl-3t-methyl-1r-cyclopropanecarboxamideof the formula

[0006] (=Carpropamid)

[0007] is very suitable for increasing the yield of beans.

[0008] Thus, the present invention consists in a method for increasingthe yield of beans by treating the plants and/or their habitat,particularly the seeds and/or their habitat, with the compound of theformula (I).

[0009] It is very surprising that the compound of the formula (I)according to the invention is outstandingly effective for increasing theyield of beans, since it has only been known until now that thiscompound is suitable for the control of fungi.

[0010] The structural formula (I) shows that the compound comprisesthree asymmetrically substituted carbon atoms, wherein the carbon atombetween the NH-group and the phenyl ring has the R-configuration. Thus,the product can be present as a mixture of isomers or in the form of asingle optically active component. The individual isomers are theN-(R)-[1-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(1S)-2,2-dichloro-1-ethyl-3t-methyl-1r-cyclopropanecarboxamideof the formula

[0011] and theN-(R)-[1-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(1R)-2,2-dichloro-1-ethyl-3t-methyl-1r-cyclopropanecarboxamideof the formula

[0012] The compound of the formula (I) and the individual isomersthereof are known (see EP-A 0 341 475).

[0013] The compound of the formula (I) according to the invention hasthe common name “Carpropamid”. It is well known as a fungicide foragricultural use (cf. “NOYAKU YORAN” (Agrochemicals Handbook) 1999, p.546-547, published by NIPPON SHOKUBUTSU BOEKI KYOKAI (Japan PlantProtection Association). Hereinafter the compound of the formula (I) isreferred to as “Carpropamid”.

[0014] Carpropamid is very effective for increasing the yield of beans.For this purpose, it is preferably applied to the seeds of beans beforesowing.

[0015] When the yield increasing agent according to the invention ispractically used, seeds of beans can be previously treated,specifically, for example, they can be drenched or dressed withformulations comprising Carpropamid, preferably before sowing.

[0016] In case of drenching, for example, seeds of beans are drenchedfor a period of time between 10 minutes and 16 hours by usually using aliquid formulation comprising Capropamid, preferably comprising theactive compound at a concentration between 1 ppm and 1000 ppm,particularly preferably between 2.5 ppm and 500 ppm. By sowing andcultivating these treated seeds of beans, an increase in yield of beanscan be achieved.

[0017] In case of seed dressing, seeds of beans are in general dressedby using powders, wettable powders etc. comprising in general between0.05 and 30% by weight, particularly between 0.1 and 25% by weight ofCarpropamid. By sowing and cultivating seeds of beans thus treated, theyield of beans can be increased.

[0018] Further, it is possible to treat the seeds of beans themselveswith coating agents comprising Capropamid.

[0019] Furthermore, when the yield increasing agent according to thepresent invention is used, it is also possible to treat the seeds ofbeans with Carpropamid by soil-treatment, for example by mixingCarpropamid with the soil or by spreading, in each case before sowingthe seeds.

[0020] As specific examples of beans, whose yield can be increased byusing the yield increasing agent of the present invention, there can bementioned, for example, soybeans, peas, adzuki beans, peanuts, kidneybeans etc.

[0021] In order to use Carpropamid as a yield increasing agent, it canbe applied in the form of various types of formulations. In case ofusing Carpropamid by drenching, the formulations can be used in the formof liquid formulations, and as specific examples thereof there may bementioned wettable powders, water-dispersible granules, solutions,liquids, AL formulations, aqueous suspensions etc. and in case of seeddressing there may be mentioned powders, wettable powders etc. Further,seed coating agents can may be mentioned.

[0022] In case of mixing Carpropamid with the soil, powders arementioned as a preferred examples.

[0023] These formulations can be prepared by per se known methods, forexample, by mixing Carpropamid with extenders, namely liquid or soliddiluents or carriers, optionally together with surface-active agents,namely emulsifiers and/or dispersants. In case of using water as anextender, an organic solvent for example, can be used as an auxiliarysolvent.

[0024] As liquid diluents or carriers there can be generally mentionedaromatic hydrocarbons (for example, xylene, toluene, alkylnaphthaleneetc.), chlorinated aromatic or chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (forexample, chlorobenzenes, ethylene chlorides, methylene chloride etc.),aliphatic hydrocarbons [for example, cyclohexane etc. or paraffins (forexample, mineral oil fractions etc.)], alcohols (for example, butanol,glycol and their ethers, esters etc.), ketones (for example, acetone,methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, cyclohexanone etc.),strongly polar solvents (for example, dimethylformamide, dimethylsulphoxide etc.), water etc.

[0025] As solid diluents there can be mentioned, for example, groundnatural minerals (for example, kaolin, clay, talc, chalk, quartz,attapulgite, montmorillonite, diatomaceous earth etc.), ground syntheticminerals (for example, highly dispersed silicic acid, alumina, silicatesetc.) etc.

[0026] As solid carriers for granules there can be mentioned, forexample, crushed and fractionated rocks (for example, calcite, marble,pumice, sepiolite, dolomite etc.), synthetic granules of inorganic andorganic meals, particles of organic materials (for example, sawdust,coconut shells, maize cobs, tobacco stalks etc.).

[0027] As surface-active agents there can be mentioned nonionic andanionic surface-active agents, for example, polyoxyethylene fatty acidesters, polyoxyethylene fatty acid alcohol ethers (for example,alkylaryl polyglycol ethers), alkylsulphonates, alkylsulphates,arylsulphonates etc.

[0028] Dispersants include, for example, ligninsulphite waste liquor andmethyl cellulose.

[0029] Tackifiers can also be used in formulations (powders, granules,emulsions). As said tackifiers there can be mentioned, for example,carboxymethyl cellulose, natural and synthetic polymers (for example,gum arabic, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate etc.).

[0030] Colorants can also be used. As said colorants there can bementioned inorganic pigments (for example, iron oxide, titanium oxide,Prussian Blue etc.), organic dyestuffs (for example, alizarin dyestuffs,azo dyestuffs, metal phthalocyanine dyestuffs etc.), and trace nutrientssuch as salts of iron, manganese, boron, copper, cobalt, molybdenum,zinc etc.

[0031] Said formulations can contain generally between 0.1 and 95% byweight, preferably between 0.5 and 90% by weight of Carpropamid.

[0032] In case of seed treatment, Carpropamid can be used in theproportion of generally between 0.001 and 1 g, preferably between 0.01and 0.2 g per 1 kg of seeds.

[0033] Further, in case of soil treatment, Carpropamid can be used atthe concentration of 0.00001-0.5% by weight, preferably 0.0001-0.1% byweight at the point of action.

[0034] Then the present invention will be described more specifically byexamples. However, the present invention should not be restricted tothem in any way. Parts in compounding amounts mean parts by weight.

EXAMPLES Test Example 1

[0035] Test of Yield Increasing Effect on Soybeans

[0036] Preparation of a Solution

[0037] 1 Part by weight of Carpropamid, 20 parts by weight ofN,N-dimethylfonnamide and 3 parts by weight of surface-active agent(methanol:Sorpol BDB:Sorpol DS=2:1:1) were mixed and diluted withdistilled water to the prescribed concentration.

[0038] Testing Procedure

[0039] 30 Grains of soybean seeds (Variety: Halosoy) were drenched inthe solution of the prescribed concentration prepared as mentioned abovefor 12 hours and these drenched bean seeds were sown in the proportionof 2 grains per point with 20 cm distance between the stocks and at 2 cmdepth. After germination they were thinned out so that one better grownplant remained at each point. They were controlled as soybeancultivation until harvest after 110 days after sowing.

[0040] Soybean plants were pulled out at the harvest time, dried byhanging in a cold and dark place. After that the grains were threshedand dried in a drier (100° C., 8 hours) so that the water content insoybeans became uniform.

[0041] Before pulling out, the number of the abortive pods and thenumber of the grown pods were counted. After threshing, dried plantswere weighed. After soybeans had been dried, the number of grains, onegrain weight and total grain weight for each treated section weremeasured. In the non-treated section, soybeans were drenched in tapwater for 10 minutes, sown without drying in the air, and cultivated inthe same manner.

[0042] Yield increasing index (%): Yield increasing index when yield (g)in the non-treated section is 100%.

[0043] Productive grain increasing index (%): Increasing index whenaverage number of the productive grains in the non-treated section is100% (calculated based upon the number of the productive grains perplant after selection of soybeans).

[0044] One grain weight (g): Weight per grain of a selected bean, aftereliminating unripe beans and beans out of standard by selection, afterthreshing and drying the soybeans (no significant difference by Fstatistical test)

[0045] Results

[0046] Test results are shown in Table 1. TABLE 1 Concen- Yieldincreasing Productive grain One grain Active tration index per plantincreasing index weight component (ppm) (%) (%) (g) Carpropamid 1000132.2 126.8 0.23 Carpropamid 100 169.1 163.4 0.23 Carpropamid 10 173.1163.5 0.23 Carpropamid 1 131.1 127.1 0.23 non-treated — 100 100 0.22

FORMULATION EXAMPLES Formulation Example 1 (Water-dispersible Granules)

[0047] 20 Parts of Carpropamid, 30 parts of sodium ligninsulfonate, 15parts of bentonite and 35 parts of calcined diatomaceous earth powderwere thoroughly mixed with water. The resulting product was granulatedby means of extrusion through a 0.3 mm screen. After drying the product,water-dispersible granules were obtained.

Formulation Example 2 (Aqueous Suspension)

[0048] 4 Parts of Carpropamid, 3 parts of Newkalgen FS-26 (made byTakemoto Oil & Fat Co., Ltd.; a compounded surface-active agent ofpolyoxyethylene tristyryl phenyl ether and sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate), 0.5 parts of SAG-10 (made by Nippon Unicar Co., Ltd.;14% silicone emulsion), 10 parts of glycerol, 0.18 parts of xanthan gum,1 part of bentonite, 0.06 parts of potassium dihydrogen phosphate and81.26 parts of water were stirred and ground in a Dyno mill to make auniform aqueous suspension.

1. Method for increasing the yield of beans, characterized in thatN-(R)-[1-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-2,2-dichloro-1-ethyl-3t-methyl-1r-cyclopropanecarboxamideof the formula

is applied to the beans and/or to their habitat.
 2. Method according toclaim 1, characterized in that the compound of the formula (I) isapplied to seeds of beans before sowing.
 3. Method according to claim 1,characterized in that the compound of the formula (I) is applied to theseeds of beans by drenching.
 4. Method according to claim 1,characterized in that the compound of the formula (I) is applied to theseeds of beans by dressing.
 5. Method according to claim 1,characterized in that the compound of the formula (I) is applied to theseeds of beans by treating the soil with the compound of the formula (I)before sowing the seeds.
 6. Method according to claim 3, characterizedin that the seeds are drenched with a liquid formulation comprising thecompound of the formula (I) in a concentration between 1 and 1000 ppm.7. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that drenching isconducted for a period of time between 10 minutes and 16 hours. 8.Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the compound of theformula (I) is applied to the seeds of soybeans, peas, adzuki beans orkidney beans.
 9. Use ofN-(R)-[1-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-2,2-dichloro-1-ethyl-3t-methyl-1r-cyclopropanecarboxamideof the formula

(=Carpropamid) for increasing the yield of beans.